Abstract: A system for irradiating mail, comprising a device for conveying mail along a predetermined path and a device for irradiating the mail moving along the path with a beam of electrons. An apparatus for chilling the mail is provided along the path. The apparatus exposes the mail to a low-temperature, gaseous fluid created using a cryogenic fluid.

Abstract: A floating device for dispersing a solute-containing solution comprised of a floatation cap in communication with a telescoping assembly having a sleeve for controlling the dispersion of the solute-containing solution is herein provided, as well as associated methods of use.

Abstract: A sterilization system and method applies low frequency power to a plasma within a vacuum chamber to remove gas or vapor species from an article. The sterilization system includes a switching module adapted to pulsate the low frequency power applied to the plasma and a low frequency power feedback control system for controllably adjusting the low frequency power applied to the plasma. A power monitor is adapted to produce a first signal indicative of the low frequency power applied to the plasma within the vacuum chamber. A power control module is adapted to produce a second signal in response to the first signal from the power monitor, and a power controller is adapted to adjust, in response to the second signal, the low frequency power applied to the plasma to maintain a substantially stable average low frequency power applied to the plasma while the article is being processed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for inactivating contaminants in blood products are disclosed. The blood product is flowed past an emitter of type C ultraviolet radiation while controlling the flow of the blood product so that the irradiation doses which are received by the blood product are lower than 640 joules/m2. The blood product is substantially free of nonenveloped viruses after the irradiation. The apparatus includes an emitter of type C ultraviolet radiation placed so as to emit the type C radiation toward the blood product in a quartz tube or a tube made of polymerized material which does not absorb type C radiation. The apparatus also includes a flow meter for controlling the flow rate of the blood product to be treated.

Abstract: A salt platform (700) is disclosed which incorporates a series of hubs (702), radial braces(704) and curved braces(706) which are snap fit together by use of mating locking members(734) and locking slots (716). The curved braces (706) can be formed with pipe holders to support pipe section(710,712) and pipe elbows (714). A stub spoke(750) can be used if desired.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the ability of a biomaterial to sorb cationic antimicrobials comprising treating the surface of said biomaterial with a cationic polysaccharide.

Abstract: Sterilization apparatus, for medical instruments and similar objects, which is easy to handle and/or remove and which is mainly formed by a casing (1) provided with a sterilization boiler (11) and means for performing the sterilization process. The sterilization apparatus comprises a double-walled boiler (11) whereby fluid (13), such as demineralized water, which is present between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (12), is heated by heating elements (17, 18) so as to achieve a sable temperature of the boiler wall as well as to generate steam (16). The apparatus further comprises a water reservoir (19), pump (21) and valve (22) for supplying water to the boiler and means (23, 24) for controlling the level of water, a valve (25) through which generated steam (16) can be injected into the sterilization chamber, a water-ejector (31) for drawing a vacuum in the chamber, and an aeration valve (29) for releasing the vacuum.

Abstract: There is provided an improved sterilization wrap and a method for using the improved sterilization wrap to sterilize an article. The wrap is made of a first and second sheets of sterilization material. Each sheet has first, second, third and fourth edges. Each sheet includes a central portion. The first edge of the first sheet is in register with and bonded to the first edge of the second sheet; the second edge of the first sheet is in register with and bonded to the second edge of the second sheet; the third edge of the first sheet is in register with and bonded to the third edge of the second sheet; and the fourth edge of the first sheet is in register with and bonded to the fourth edge of the second sheet. The central portions of the first and second sheets are substantially not bonded together. Thus, two layers of sterilization material is provided for an article to be sterilized.

Abstract: A system of sterilization of spaces and surfaces which includes a container having a plurality of walls which jointly define an inner chamber, a cover connected with the container turnably between an open position in which the inner chamber of the container is open and a closed position in which the inner chamber is closed; a plurality of compartments formed in the inner chamber and including a sprayer compartment; a mask compartment, a glove compartment, at least one encapsulant compartment, and a fungicide compartment which are separate from one another and do not communicate with one another; a uniform compartment provided in the cover; means for locking the cover with the container and unlocking the cover from the same; and elements for sterilization including a sprayer removably arranged in the sprayer compartment, a mask removably arranged in the mask compartment an encapsulant removably arranged in the at least one encapsulant compartment, a fungicide removably arranged in the fungicide compartment, at

Abstract: A device for treating a liquid effluent such as pig slurry containing significant quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus, the device including a mixing reactor for contacting the liquid effluent with the basic reagent, provided with an intake for said effluent and another intake for the basic reagent; an ammonia-extracting reactor, connected to the mixing reactor, and a tank for storing the treated liquid effluent derived from the ammonia-extracting reactor.

Abstract: A sterilization system and process is provided which is useful in the chemical sterilization of medical supplies and equipment. The system includes a container having an internal generator of a sterilant such as chlorine dioxide. An internal container activator, such as high humidity or manual manipulation, is provided and stimulates the formation and release of the sterilant. The package includes a first indicator responsive to the release of sterilant and a second indicator which records the passage of a predetermined time interval. The combination of the sterilant indicator and the time interval indicator signals that proper sterilization conditions have been met and that the objects have been suitably sterilized.

Abstract: Light-leakage type photocatalyst fibers (10) are bundled together to form a filter assembly having an enormous number of minute gaps which provide fluid communication paths in a longitudinal direction of the photocatalyst fibers. Light is incident to each of the photocatalyst fibers constituting the filter assembly while an object fluid to be processed is introduced through an end face of the filter assembly to pass through the gaps among the photocatalyst fibers in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A process for sanitizing a fabric article which is contaminated with one or more microbials. The process steps include: (a) placing the fabric article in a vapor venting bag together with a cleaning/refreshing composition comprising water; and (b) subjecting the vapor venting bag to a heat source which supplies sufficient heat to vaporize the water, thereby exposing the microbials to the resulting water vapor. This process results in at least about 50% of the microbials being killed. The cleaning/refreshing composition preferably comprises at least one antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol, trichlorocarbanalide, hydrogen peroxide, other oxygen bleaches, 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol, iodine/iodophors, chlorhexidine, phenols, phospholipids, thymol, eugeniol, geraniol, oil of lemon grass, limonene and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition having biological activity. The composition includes from about 10 ppm to about 5000 parts iodonium salt. The composition also includes from about 100 ppm to about 300,000 ppm of a compound to act as a carrier of the iodonium compound. The carrier is selected from at least one of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetates, polyethylene glycols, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol block copolymers, cellulosic polymers, polyesters, alkyd polymers. The composition also includes from about 50 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of a compound to render the composition compatible with a surface being treated. This component is selected from at least one of di-acids, acid anhydrides, polyfunctional acids, di-ethylene glycol, resorcinol and the like. The composition also includes an appropriate vehicle selected from at least one of water, acidified water, paint, primer, and petroleum distillates.

Abstract: A biosolids treatment system comprising a storage tank for containing a quantity of biosolids sludge, a system of disinfection piping within the storage tank comprised of a segment of inner biosolids piping having a plurality of holes spirally arranged at a desired spacing around its perimeter concentrically arranged with a segment of outer steam piping, delivery pumps for delivering a quantity of biosolids to the storage tank, biosolids pumps for delivering a flow of biosolids from the storage tank to the inner biosolids piping; and steam pumps for delivering a flow of steam to the outer steam piping and thereby injecting a flow of steam from the outer steam piping into the inner biosolids piping for thermally disinfecting the flow of biosolids in the inner biosolids piping. The system includes computerized controls for continuously and simultaneously monitoring and operating the biosolids and steam pump means.

Abstract: A method is provided for rapidly determining whether a load of equipment to be sterilized in a sterilization chamber absorbs, adsorbs, condenses, or decomposes significant amounts of germicide vapor or gas, such as hydrogen peroxide. The initial slope of the curve of a plot of ln(c/c0) versus time is determined, where c is the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and c0 is the maximum concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The initial slope is determined in the first 100 seconds after the maximum in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. If the initial slope is approximately 0.016 sec−1 or less, the load is acceptable. If the initial slope is significantly steeper than 0.016 sec−1, the load absorbs, adsorbs, condenses, or decomposes significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide. If the slope of the curve is steep, the system can abort the sterilization run before significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide have been absorbed, adsorbed, or condensed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing at high efficiency vaporization a precisely controllable, continuously adjustable gas-phase flow of a vaporizable liquid (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) in a carrier gas (e.g., air) are disclosed. The gas-phase product flow can be substantially continuous, low-temperature, unsaturated with respect to the vaporized vaporizable liquid, and of substantially constant vaporized vaporizable liquid concentration as a function of time. Fine particles of the vaporizable liquid are produced and introduced into the flow of carrier gas/vapor in a vaporization plenum with a sufficient flow of carrier gas/vapor to provide a curtain of carrier gas/vapor between substantially all of the fine particles of vaporizable liquid and the inner surface of the vaporization plenum.

Abstract: A container for use with a solution dispenser, the solution dispenser generating a solution by impinging a solvent spray on a solid cast chemical product disposed within the container, the container being disposable in an inverted disposition in a solution dispenser bowl includes a container body suitable for containing a flowable chemical composition and supporting a casting of the chemical composition. The container body has a mouth for receiving the solvent spray therein; and has a container bottom being disposed generally opposed to the mouth; and further has an inclined side portion operably coupled to and extending between the container bottom portion and the container mouth, the cross sectional dimension of the side portion decreasing from the container bottom portion to the container mouth. A chemical dispenser includes at least one of the aforementioned containers.

Abstract: A processing method for treating organics-containing fluids including a ultraviolet (UV) disinfection step and a biological processing step. The UV light source employed in the UV disinfection step is positioned outside the fluid to be disinfected and the fluid is disinfected via exposure to at least one UV dose zone outside the fluid being treated wherein UV light is projected into the at least one dose zone. The UV light source may be presented in a vertical riser configuration, wherein the UV light source is positioned above the fluid to be treated and projecting a UV dose zone downward toward and into the fluid to be treated, with the fluid moving upward toward the UV light source. At least one interface plate is used to provide a surface zone for UV disinfection above the fluid and to provide additional treatment means for balancing pH, affecting effluent chemistry, reducing organic chemicals, and the like.

Abstract: A scent storage device including a base member and a plurality of scent channels carried by the base member. Each scent channel includes a scent material supply and a scent activation system that selectively activates predetermined portions of the scent material supply.